The world of student transportation can be stressful without things going wrong. But when nature’s wrath comes into the mix, things can go from bad to worse. While it may seem impossible during disasters, it helps to have contingency plans to help keep your head up.
One solution to help you deal with natural disasters is using a student transportation platform that allows for alternate routes. Without further ado, let’s dive into some ways that school bus software can help you when you need it the most.
There’s a Natural Disaster
Severe weather events can be extremely stressful, especially when transporting students. From poor visibility to road closures and car crashes, navigating through extreme conditions can pose a challenge.
In times like these, drivers need to maintain composure and ensure students safely reach their destinations. Additionally, districts using school bus routing software can use it to keep operations running smoothly.
- Avoid Hazards: School bus route planning software uses live data to show districts where road hazards exist and choose the best route to ensure student safety.
- Stay on Schedule: While it’s not easy to ensure that all your buses are on time during natural disasters, routing software can help students reach their homes at a reasonable time. This is possible with real-time traffic updates that allow drivers to choose routes with the least traffic.
One of Your Drivers is a No-Show
The number one rule in student transportation is that if things can go wrong, they will. Assuming that everything else is going well, one of your drivers may not show up. While we can hope for some kind of prior notice, unavoidable emergencies may result in their absence.
In such situations, dispatch tools for student transportation can be revolutionary. Here’s how they can help:
- Reassign Routes: If a driver doesn’t show up, you can reallocate their routes to other drivers based on their schedule and distance.
- Swap Buses: Buses are machines, and machines can break. Instead of dealing with a logistics nightmare when your fleet isn’t at 100%, you can assign nearby buses to pick up students from the original route.
Parents Are Freaking Out
Worried parents calling the transportation department can stretch you thin and impact how efficiently you tackle a challenge. It’s important to keep parents updated about their children’s safety, but it can take a toll on you.
That’s where parent apps for student transportation can help bridge communication gaps using secure communication. Here are some ways these tools can help:
- Improve Communication: With two-way messaging, you can ensure that parents and your transportation team are aligned about delays or changes that deviate from the routine.
- Boost Safety: School bus tracking apps for parents allow for visibility on when a student scans on and off a bus to ensure every child is accounted for.
The Big Picture
Student transportation is one of the most challenging fields out there. Ensuring children attend school on time in a safe environment is critical for their success and mental health. We know how hard the job can be, so we built an all-in-one student transportation platform to help. Get in touch with us to see how BusPlanner can transform your school district.
